Liquid fuel and air pumping unit



Jan. 14, 1958 J. o. SARTO 2,819,588

LIQUID FUEL AND AIR PUMPING 'UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1954 M4 INVENTOR. Jrvrd 0. Sari? BY fl77'0F/VZf/S Jan- 14, 195 J. b. SARTO 2,819,588

LIQUID FUEL AND AIR PUMPING UNIT Fild July 2, 1954' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 file/? fz i 60 wire? INVENTOR.

Man/e J'rma 6. Saria t progre s ye y cont o t si nt th restricti thereby egulati t e fl w f li uid fuel he. thr ughent may in tu be a j s y assi- United States Patent- O -16 Cl ims. rci. sob-sac My present invention-relatesgenerally to fuel control systems for usewit-h liquid fuel combustion apparatus. 'More particularly, my invention relates to a new and improved pumping unit for supplying both liquid and air to a liquid fuel air atomizingnozzle or the like, said pumping unit and said nozzle being adapted to form a portion of such a fuel control system.

Thepumping unit of my instant invention is especially adapted to be used with the fuel system of a gas turbine power plant although it will readily become apparent that it is also capable of many other uses.

Such, a gas turbine power plant normally comprises a liquid fuel combustion chamber for producing motive gases and a first turbine stage which is adapted to be powered by these motive gases. The first turbine stage may be drivably connected, to an air compressor unit which in turn is adapted to supply the gas turbine combustion chamber with a supply of compressed intake air for supporting combustion of the liquid fuel. Th motive gases then pass from the first turbine stage to a second stage and impart a driving torque to. the latter. This second turbine stage may be drivably connected to a ab e P w r absor n dri en m a s such a t v sha of an au omobile v hi l 9 th l The -ment oned liquid uel a ato i ing nozzle may b p a i ely a ociat d ith the powe Plan 9 us ion chamb r and is a ap ed to uti i a w f a to atomize on r ed flo ot iq id f l and to ther b P duc a ombus ib e spray patt rn o l quid fue wi he c mbus i n am r, hetuel an air be n su plie t t en z e y he pump un as abo set forth.- ,A fuel control valve mechanism may be interposed between he pump n and the ozzle f r he p rpo a e ulating the rate of theabove-mentioned flow of liquid fuel.

As the speed of the turbine elements of the power plant increases. th Pr s r ith n th ombus q chamber. i also increased, and consequently, the back pressure on the liquid fuel nozzle is of a greater ,rnagnitude at high oper n peeds th it is t lowe p a speed It desirable to maintain a substantially. constant presu e di fe ent a o s h quid .fue n e in r e to ma nta n uniform u l d sp r io .W thinthb b mba tion chamber throughout the operatlng speed range of the power plant and therefore the delivpry pressures of he l quid. f e nd a e na'suppl e to h no zle mus e a in orde o Wmpen ate fo sbt esp ng variations in the nozzle back pressure. Therefore, the operating characteristics of the; fuel ancl. air pumping unit must,

e such ha tb fue an air dl e y pre su s a e gr h pres ure With uth a bus i n ham r by a pr d e m ned mbnbt durin the e aration. of t p e Planthe fu flow serum! valve means betw en the p mpi g u nd the n zzle ma nq udb flu d fl w rest i n o ific and mo able v e elemen s h h are adapt r c These valve ele H 2,819,538 Patented Jan. 14, 1958 .rtioned rby suitable valve actuator means. -I-n order to maintain a uniform fuel flow for a given ssetting of the valve elements the characteristics of the pumping unit mustwbe such that the pressure differential across t-he fuel .zflowtcontrol valve means is substantially -constarivthrough .out the entire operating speed range or the power plant.

Accordingly, it is an object of my present invention to providea fuel andair pumping unitof thetype briefly .set forth above which will fulfill the above .toperating requirements.

mentioned :Another .object of my present invention is ;-to provide a fuel and air pumping unit for use w ith "the fuel control system of a liquid fuel combustion apparatus, sa id fuel combustion apparatus employing a combustion chamber and .a compressed air pumping unit for supplying the combustion chamber with pressurized air, wherein the delivery pressures of the fuel and t air supplied by the pumping unit are proportional to the discharge pressure .of the compressed air pumping unit.

Anotheraobject of my present invention-is to provide .a'fuelpnd air pumping unitfor use with a fuel com- .bustion apparatus as previously set forth, said fuelrcom- :bnstion apparatus including a liquid fuel air atomizing nozzle adapted .to be supplied through suitableconduits with liquid fuel and air by said fuel and air pumping unit, said fuel combustion apparatus further including a fuel control valve means for regulating the flow of fuel from the fuel and air pumping unit to the nozzle, wherein means are provided for adapting .the pumping :unit to maintain a substantially eonstant fuel;tpressure,

differential across the above mentioned'fuel control valve means during substantial variations in-the operating characteristics of the combustion apparatus.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a fuel and air pumping unit as set forthin the preceding objects wherein means are providedfor utilizing the pressure .of the intake air pumping unit to supplement the discharge pressures of the fuel andairpurnp'ingunit. Another object of my present invention is to provide a pumping unit, as set forth in 'the preceding objects, which is adapted to maintain a substantially constant differential between the discharge pressure ofgthe intake air pumping unit and the fuel delivery pressure and be- .tween the discharge pressure of the intake air pumping unit andthe air delivery pressure.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a fuel and air pumping unit which is adapted to be used with a fuel control system of a liquid; fuel combustion apparatus and which is further adapted to-rnaintain a uniformpressure differential between an. air intake means and an. air discharge means and between fuel intake means and a fuel discharge means, each of said intake and discharge means including portions operatively associated with the pumping unit.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a fuel and air pumping unit for use with a fuel control system, as set forth above, which includes: a means for automatically regulating the rates of fuel and air delivery in accordance with the fuel and air requirements of the fuel control system. i i

A further object of my present inventionis'to provide a new and improved fuel and air pumping. unit which is possessed of advantageous operating characteristics and which is simple and compact in design.

Qther objects and featureswill readily become apparent from the following description of one preferredform of my in en i n- .In carrying forth the foregoing objects, Lhave provided a fuel and .air pumping unit which comprises a housing adapted to form a pair ofworking chambers, one of these chambers functioning as a liquid fuel workiugchamber Separate intake and discharge passage means are provided for each working chamber and suitable valve means may be provided therein for controlling the flow of liquid fuel and air into and out of each of the respective chambers. The intake passage means for the liquid fuel working chamber may be connected to a suitable fuel reservoir and the discharge passage means therefor may communicate with a liquid fuel air atomizing nozzle through a suitable fuel control valve means as previously mentioned.

The intake passage means for the air working chamber may be connected to the discharge side of an intake air pumping unit for a combustion apparatus of the type previously referred to and the discharge passage means for the air working chamber may be connected to the above mentioned liquid fuel air atomizing nozzle.

Each of the working chambers is partly defined by a flexible spring loaded working diaphragm which may be deflected by means of a suitable actuating shaft integrally secured thereto. Suitable passage means are provided within the housing for conducting air from the intake air passage means to one side of the working diaphragm for the air chamber, hereinafter referred to as the air diaphragm, to supplement the working effort of an associated diaphragm actuating spring means. Other passage means are provided for conducting air from the discharge side of the air chamber to one side of the working diaphragm of the fuel chamber, hereinafter referred to as the fuel diaphragm, to supplement the working effort of another diaphragm actuating spring means which is associated with the fuel chamber.

The total discharge pressure for the air chamber is therefore equal to the sum of the pressure produced by the diaphragm actuating spring for the air chamber and the discharge pressure of the above mentioned intake air pumping unit. Similarly, the total discharge pressure for the fuel chamber is equal to the sum of the pressure produced by the diaphragm actuating spring means for the fuel chamber and the total discharge pressure of the above-described air chamber.

The actuating shafts for the diaphragms of the air chamber of the fuel chamber may each be actuated by a cam operated rocker arm suitably mounted within the pump housing and the actuating cam for the rocker arm may be drivingly connected to the compressor drive shaft of the fluid combustion apparatus. The connections between the rocker arm and each of the diaphragm operated shafts are preferably of the lost motion type and are adapted to move the respective shafts in one direction only. The spring means associated with each of the fuel and air working chambers is effective to return the fuel and air diaphragms in the other direction to provide a working stroke for the respective working chambers. If the fuel or air pumping requirements are reduced during the operation of the combustion apparatus, the rate at which the fuel or air diaphragms are actuated by the associated spring means is correspondingly retarded by virtue of the lost motion connection between the abovementioned rocker arm and the diaphragm actuator shafts. The pumping unit therefore incorporates as inherent flow control means for regulating the rate of delivery of both fuel and air in response to variations in the pumping requirements.

For the purpose of more particularly describing my instant invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the gas turbine power plant employing a fuel system which is adapted to incorporate a fuel and air pumping unit of my instant invention;

Figure 2 is a partial schematic elevation View of the fuel and air pumping unit of my instant invention as viewed along section line 2-2 of Figure 1 and it shows a suitable means for actuating the above-mentioned rocker shaft;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the pumping unit of my instant invention;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the pumping unit of Figure 3 and is taken along the section lines 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a fuel control system embodying the fuel and air pumping unit of my instant invention, said system including in combination with the pumping unit, a fuel control valve means, an air atomizing nozzle, and suitable interconnecting conduit structure.

Referring first to Figure 1, the gas turbine power plant comprises a compressor unit generally designated by numeral 10, a liquid fuel combustion chamber generally designated by numeral 12, and a two-stage turbine assembly generally designated by numeral 14. The compressor unit 10 comprises a rotor element 16 which is adapted to conduct air from an inlet air passage means 13 and to discharge the same radially into a suitable diffuser and conduit structure shown schematically at 20.

Upon entering the structure 20, the intake air temperature and pressure increases and the intake air is then c0nducted through a suitable regenerator portion 22 where the temperature is further increased. The heated intake air is conducted to a burner cone 24 which forms a portion of the combustion chamber 12. A liquid fuel nozzle 26 is adapted to supply a combustible spray pattern of liquid fuel to the interior of the burner cone 24 and the combustion products produced as a result of the combustion of the liquid fuel are conducted through the primary stage 23 of the turbine assembly 14 thereby powering the same. The primary turbine stage 28 is drivably connected to the compress-or rotor 16 through a compressor drive shaft 30. The motive gases then pass through a second turbine stage 32 thereby imparting a driving torque .to the turbine output shaft 34 which is drivably con- 35 nected to the input pinion of a speed reduction transmission 36, said transmission being drivably connected to a suitable power absorbing means such as the vehicle driving wheels of an automotive vehicle.

The exhaust gases passing from the secondary stage 32 are conducted by a suitable conduit structure 38 to another regenerator portion 40 where a transfer of thermal energy takes place between the relatively cool intake air passing through the regenerator portion 22 and the heated exhaust gases passing through this regenerator portion 40. The exhaust gases are then passed through a suitable exhaust port shown schematically at 42.

An accessory drive gear means is shown generally at 44 and the input driving gear thereof is drivably connected to the compressor drive shaft 39, the output driven gear being drivably connected to a camshaft as shown at 46. As best seen in Figure 2, the cam shaft 46 carries a cam element 48 which is adapted to actuate a rocker arm 50 forming a portion of the fuel pumping unit of my instant invention, said pumping unit being generally designated by numeral 52.

A fuel delivery conduit 54 interconnects the pumping unit 52 with the above-mentioned fuel nozzle 26 and the fuel control valve means 56 may be interposed in the delivery line 54, as shown. An air delivery conduit shown at 58 interconnects another portion of the pumping unit 52 with the fuel nozzle 26.

An inlet air conduit, shown at 69, interconnects a high pressure portion of the diffuser structure 20 with a pump inlet air port for the pump 52, and a fuel supply conduit,

shown at 62, interconnects a fuel inlet port for the pump 52 with a suitable fuel reservoir 64.

Referring more particularly to the cross sectional views of Figures 3 and 4, the pumping unit 52 of my instant invention comprises a multiple piece cast housing structure having a center portion 66, said center portion 66 including an interior chamber 68 and a lateral side opening 70 which interconnects the interior chamber 68 with the exterior of the pump. A lower housing portion is provided at 72 and is secured to the lower surface of the intermediate housing portion 66 and is separated therefrom by means of a flexible fuel diaphragm element ng opening 98 and as shown.

portion 72 may be recessed, as shown at 116, to allow 4- ue diaphragm element 74 issecnre'd at its periphery between the mating surfaces .of the lhl ls'ing portions 66and 72 andis-extended transversely across a [recess 76 formed in the lower surface of the housing portion .66. Therecess 76 includes a circular depressed portion 78 within which isdisposed a compression spring means 80which is adapted to 'bias thefiexib'le 111.61 dia- "'ment 90 is positionedon the reduced diameter'portion 88 of the shaft '82 in juxtaposition with respect to theel'e- 'ment'86 saidelements 86 and 90 being adapted to clamp therebetween-the central portion of the diaphragm element 74. Asuitable fastening means 92 issecured at the end of the'rejduced diameter end portion 88 to retain *the elements 86 and 90 in clamping engagement with the diaphragm element 74. The spring means "80 is seated on the upper surface ofthe clamping element 86 as shown. The lower housing portion 72 is recessed at 94 on the upper surface thereof for the purpose of receiving the clamping element 90, said element 90 being seated on a flatbottom surface 96 of the recess 94 when the fuel diaphragm element74 assumes a downward position.

The shaft 82 is slidably received in an axially extenddeflection of the fuel diaphragm element'74 to which it ;is secured, as previously described. A sufficientclearanc'c exists between the depressed surface of the recess 76 to permit an appreciable deflection of diaphragm element 74, said depressed surface being designated bynumeral 100. A suitable sealing means may be provided, if desired, as shown at 102.

A lower cap member, shown at 104, is pos1t1oned at the bottom side of the lower housing portion 72. A surge diaphragm element 106 is secured at the periphery thereof between juxtaposed surfaces of the housing portion 72 and the lower cap member 104. The surge diaphragm element 106 is extended transversely across a central chamber 108 defined by the cap member 104. Suitable fastening means 110 may be provided for maintaining the cap member 104 and the lower housing portion 72 in integrally assembled relationship with respectto the central housing portion 66.

A surge spring means 112 is disposed within the central chamber 108 formed in the cap member 104 and is adapted to bias the diaphragm element 106 in an upward direction as viewed in Figures 3 and 4. A spring seat member 114 may be positioned against the diaphragm 106 The bottom surface of the lower housing alimited vertical deflection of the diaphragm to take place.

An upper housing portion is shown at 118 and is secured to the upper surface of the central housing porsecured in integrally assembled relationship with respect to the housing portion66by means of suitable fastening means or bolts 126.

The air diaphragm element 124 is extended transversely "across an upper central chamber 128 defined by the upper cap member 122 and is secured at the central portion "iliereof to a vertically movable actuating shaft 130.; The

is caused to reciprocate therein upon t means for securing the shaft 130 to th diaphragm ele- .m.ent124comprfises a {first clamping element 132 land a second clamping element 134 which are centrally received on a reduced diameter end portion 136 of .theshaft 1310. The clamping elements 132 and 134 are disposed on opposite sides of the airdiaphragm element 1.24 and may be heldin clamping engagement therewith by suitable fastening means which may consist of a fastener head .138. and spacer elements .140 .and142. The spacer ,element 142 is positioned, as shown, against: a shoulder 144 formed on the shaft 130.

An air spring means 145 is interposed between the upper wall of the cap member 122 and the diaphragm 124 and isadapted to bias the latter in a downward direceXtendstransverseIy across the chamber .68 as shown.

Themoclcer arm 50 includesa portion 154 which extends to the exterior of the pumping unit through the aperture 70 formedin the housing portion 66. The extended end of-the arm portion .154 functions as a cam follower and isiadapted to operatively engage the cam surfaceofs-the previously mentioned cam element 48. Another portion 156 of the rocker arm 50 extends within the interior chamber-68 and vis radapted tooperatively engage the. end of the diaphragm actuating shaft 130,.asshown at 158. The arm portion 156 is further provided with an opening 160 through which the diaphragmactuating shaft .82 is slidably received, said actuating shaft 82 being provided at the upper end thereof wit-ha washer 164 which is secured in the position shown by a suitable fastening means 166.

The cam element 48 is effective to cause the rocker arm 50 to oscillate aboutthe bearing :pin 150,a suitable spring means 168 being interposed between the upper housing portion 118 and/the rocker arm portion'156to normally bias the rocker arm 50 in' a counterclockwise direction and to maintain the arm portion 154 in contact with the cam element 48. When the rocker arm :50 oscillates in a clockwise direction, each of the diaphragm actuating shafts 82 and 130 are moved in an upward direction. When therocker arm 50 oscillates in a counterclockwise direction, the shafts 82 and 130 .are returned to the position shown in Figure 3 by virtue of the force exerted by the compression springs .80 and 145,respectively, said downward movement being independent of the rocker arm 50. It is thus seen that the connections between each of the shafts 82 and .130 and thearm portion 156 are of the lost motion type and the rocker arm 50 is adapted to positively actuate :these shafts only in one direction.

Referring to the cross sectional view of Figure 4, an air inlet port is shown .at 170 within which is received a suitable conduit fitting 172 disposed at the end of the air delivery conduit 60. Port 170 provides communication betweenthe conduit 60 and a vertically extending air passage portion 174 formed within the interior of the central housing portion 66. Other communicating passage portions 176, 178, and areprovided in the housing portion 66, housing portion 118 and cap member 122, respectively, to provide communication between the air passage portion 174 and the chamber 128. The air passage portion 174 communicates with the space below the diaphragm 124 througha oneway check valve strncture 182 which-comprises an orifice element 184 and la movable valve element186. :Aspring means185 is provided for biasing the valve element 186 into engagement with the orifice element 184 to permit the Flow of air from the passage portion 174 into the space below the air diaphragm 124 and to prevent a flow of air in the reverse direction. This space below the air diaphragm 124 will hereinafter he referred to as the air working chamber.

The central housing portion 66 is further provided with another vertically extending air passage means 188 for accommodating the flow of air from the air Working chamber below the air diaphragm 124 to an air outlet port 190, said port 190 providing communication between air delivery conduit 58 and the air passage portion 188. The delivery conduit 58 is provided with a suitable terminal fitting 192 for securing the same to the pump housing portion 66. The flow of air from the air working chamber into the passage portion 188 is controlled by a one-way check valve structure 194 which is similar in construction to the previously described valve structure 182 and which includes an orifice plate 196 together with a spring loaded valve element 198 for providing one-way flow through the orifice plate 196.

An opening is provided at 200 within the housing portion 66 for the purpose of providing communication between the air inlet passage portion 174 and the recess 76 on the upper side of the diaphragm element 74. Also, a branch air passage means is provided at 202 for the purpose of interconnecting the lower central chamber 108 and the air passage portion 188. This branch air passage comprises three communicating portions 204, 206, and 208 formed in the housing portion 66, the housing portion 72, and the lower cap member 104, respectively. A suitable one-way check valve is provided at 210 to permit the flow of fluid from the air passage portion 188 and to prevent the flow of fluid through the branch passage 202 in the opposite direction.

A liquid fuel inlet port 212 is formed in the lower housing portion '72 to provide communication between an inlet fuel passage portion 214 and the fuel conduit 62, said fuel conduit 62 including a suitable fitting 216 at the terminal portion thereof which is threadably received within the port 212. The fuel passage portion 214 communicates with the space below the flexible diaphragm element 74 through a one-way check valve structure 213, said valve structure 218 including an apertured plate 220 and a movable valve element 222 which is spring biased against the apertured plate 220 to permit the flow of fluid from the passage portion 214- to the space below the fuel diaphragm element 74 and to prevent the flow of fuel in the reverse direction. This space below the fuel diaphragm 74 will hereinafter be referred to as the fuel working chamber.

Similarly another fuel passage portion is provided at 224 for accommodating the flow of fuel from the fuel working chamber to a fuel outlet port 226 which communicates with the fuel delivery conduit 54. This conduit 54 is provided with a suitable fitting 228 which may be threadably received Within the port 226.

A one-way valve structure is provided at 230 to provide communication between the fuel working chamber and the fuel passage portion 224. The valve structure 230 is similar in construction to the valve structure 218 and it comprises an apertured plate 232 disposed transversely across the fuel passage portion 224 and a spring biased movable valve element 234 to permit the flow of fluid into the fuel passage portion 224 and to prevent the flow of fuel in the reverse direction. An opening is provided, as shown at 235, between the passage portion 224 and a space above the surge diaphragm element 1%. This space is adapted to function as a surge chamber and will be subsequently described in particular detail.

As best seen in Figure 5, the air atomizing nozzle 26, previously referred to in connection with the description of the power plant assembly of Figure 1, includes a body portion 236 and an interior nozzle element 238. A plu- 8 rality of nozzle air passages 240 is provided about the periphery of the nozzle element 238 and a central nozzle fuel passage 242 is provided within the interior of the nozzle element 238. The passages 240 are connected to the air delivery conduit 58 and the passage 242 is con nected to the fuel delivery conduit 54. A suitable one-way check valve structure may be provided in the fuel delivery conduit 54, as shown at 244, for preventing the reverse flow of fuel from the nozzle 26 when the operation of the engine ceases.

Branch fuel passages are provided in the nozzle element 238, as shown at 246, which intersect the air passages 240 in the vicinity of a nozzle orifice 248 formed in the nozzle body 236.

During the operation of the pumping unit of my instant invention, the rotary elements of the power plant are effective to oscillate the rocker arm 50 about the mounting pin 150 by virtue of the rotary movement of the cam element 48, as previously described. When the rocker arm 50 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the diaphragm elements 74 and 124 are deflected in an upward direction by virtue of the lost motion connection between the rocker arm portion 156 and the diaphragm actuating shafts 82 and 13th During this upward stroke of the diaphragm actuating shafts, liquid fuel is caused to enter the fuel working chamber through the check valve structure 218. Simultaneously the compressed intake air is caused to enter the air working chamber through the check valve structure 182.

When the rocker arm 50 is caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, the force exerted by the air spring 145 on the air diaphragm element 124 in a downward direction is effective to cause the compressed air in the air working chamber below the air diaphragm element 124 to he forced into the air passage portion 118 and the communicating air delivery conduit 58. Simultaneously, the downward force exerted by the fuel spring on the fuel diaphragm element '74 is effective to force liquid fuel from the fuel working chamber below the fuel diaphragm element 74 through the check valve structure 230 into the fuel passage portion 224 and the communicating fuel delivery conduit 54. During this working stroke of the fuel diaphragm element 74, the inlet air pressure in the air passage portion 188 is effective to supplement the working effort of the fuel spring 80 by virtue of the communication provided by opening 200 between the air passage portion 174 and the fuel spring chamber defined by the recess 76.

Air pressure is delivered to the spring chamber 108 below the surge diaphragm element 106 through the branch air passage 202 during the working stroke of the air diaphragm element 124. The discharge fuel pressure in the passage portion 224 is effective to deflect the surge diaphragm element 166 in a downward direction against the upward biasing force of the surge spring 112 and the upward force exerted by the air pressure in the spring chamber 108. Upon termination of the fuel pumping stroke and during the succeeding intake stroke of the fuel diaphragm, fuel pressure may be maintained in the fuel delivery conduit 54 by virtue of the combined forces exerted by the spring 112and this pressure within the spring chamber 168. The surge diaphragm 106 is thereby effective to substantially eliminate large variations in the magnitude of the fuel delivery pressure during the operation of the pumping unit.

The working effort provided by the air spring is supplemented by the air pressure which is transmitted to the chamber 12% through the branch 178, and 180.

passage portions 176,

' will be at all times be greater than the pressure which exists in the combustion chamber of the fuel combustion apparatus. The magnitude of this pressure differential will be substantially constant and will be equal to the air 'pressureproduced by the biasing force of the air spring Figures 3 and 4; and the rocker .arm 50 will be ineffective to cause a "further pumping action to take place. This "feature is made possible by virtue of the lost motion connectionbetween the rocker shaft and the diaphragm actuator shafts and by virtue of the independent. operation of the fuel and air working springs. The pumping .unit

thereforeincorporates an inherent flow "limiting means and't-hus requires no separate relief valve. The pumping 'unitis effective to deliver fuel and air only at a rate which -'is sufficient to meet the operating requirements of the combustion apparatus.

Further-,if the fuel and air delivery requirements are only moderately reduced, the rateof deflection of the fuel and air diaphragms during their respfiCtive working strokes is correspondingly reduced.

it is not essential that the air diaphragm and the fuel daaphragm should be deflected simultaneously in the same direction =by the respective diaphragm actuating springs.

1 contemplate that one of the pumping diaphragms might be actuated by the rocker arm upon oscillation thereof in one direction and that the other pumping diaphragm might be actuated by the rocker arm upon oscillation thereof inthe opposite direction. The lost motion connection between'the diaphragm actuating shafts and the rockerarm may be readily altered to provide such an alternating motion of the respective pumping ,diaphragms.

Theactuating springs for the respective pumping .diaphragms may also readily be adapted so that theair diaphragm and the fuel diaphragm are biased ,i-n opposite directions, appropriate modifications to the pump housing structure being required.

While I have .described one preferredform of my presentinvention, .it is apparent that many ,other modifications thereof .are also included within the sc pflof my inven- 'tion as definedby the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secureby .UnitedStates Let- 'ters Patent is:

, '1. In a fuel combustion apparatus including .a. rotany element, a combustion chamber for producing motive gases for powering said rotary element, .a liquid fuel ;and

air nozzle disposed ,in said combustion chamberfor supplying the latter with a combustible spray pattern ofliquid fuel, separate airand fuel conduit meansextending to said nozzle for delivering liquid fuel andair thcr IQ, and an air compressor .unit drivably connected .toisaid .rotary elemerit and adapted ,to supplysaid ,combustionchamberwith compressed .air .tosupport combustion therein; :a duel and air pumping .unit comprising. an air working chamber, a 'liquidfuel workin chamber, said air chamber and :Said .fuel tchamber being partly defined by a movable wall member, spring means acting on one side of each wall pressed air to said air working chamber, branch passage means for conducting compressed air from said inlet conduit means to said one side of the movable wall member for said air working chamber, and other branch passage means for conducting air from said inlet conduit means to said one side of the movable wall member for said fuel working chamber.

2. A liquid ,fuel and air pumping unit comprising a housing, a liquid fuel pumping chamber disposed in one portion of said housing, .an air pumping chamber disposed in another portion of said housing, a movable wall mem- -p t y fi g each o said pumpi chamber mean for positively actuating fsaid movable members in .0 16 .direction, and springmeans forlbiasingeach of said movable walls to provide a working strokeforthe same independently of said 'levermeans, air outlet passage meansand air inlet passage means each communicating with said air pump c am r, and o pa sag mea s to condu t- ,ing air pressure from one of the aforesaid passage means to one "side of the. diaphragm for said fuel pumping chamber.

3. A liquid. fuel and air pumping unit comprising a housing, a liquid fuelpumping chamber disposed in one portionofsaidihousing, an air pumpingchamber disposed in another portion of said housing, a separate movable Wall member partlydefining eachof said working chambers, a fuel inlet conduit means and a fuel delivery $1.011- duit means communicating with said fuel working chamber, an air inlet conduit means and an air deli-very conduit means communicating with said air pumping .Chflmber, linkage means for positively actuating each of Qsaidmoyable wall members, 'a spring means disposed on one side of each of said movable wall members ,for respeetiyely biasing each of said movable members and forreturning the same in ,a direction opposite to the direetion of the aforesaid-actuation of the respective movable walls, a branch passage means for providing ccnnrmmication .bletween'said air inlet conduit means ,andgsaid 911, .Sisl- Qf the movable wall member for said air working-chamber,

and other branch passage means for prouidiuguqqmmunica ion between ai t ir inlet con uit means an sai on side of the movable wall for said "fuel pumping ehamber.

A liq u and ai Pumpi g uni emprisins a hou a iq fu pu n ch mbe dispose in one portion of-said housing, an air pumping chamber disposed in another portion of said housing, aflexihle diaphragm partly defining each of said pumping chamber's,,means,for positivelyactuating each said flexible diaphragm in qnedirection, and spring means for biasing each of saidfiexihle diaphragms in the opposite direction independently of said lever means, air outlet passage means and .airiinlet passage means eachcommunicating with saidairpump'ing chamber, and otherpassage means for conducting air pressure from-one of'the'aforesaid passage means to oneside ofthe-diaphragm for said fuelpumping chamber.

5. A liqu'idfuel and air pumping unit comprisinga housing, a liquid fuel pumping chamber disposed'in one portionof said housing, an air pumping chamber disposed in another portion of said housing, a flexible diaphragm partly defining-each-of said working chambers, a shaft centrally secured tor-each of said diaphragrns, ,alever pivoted-to aportion ofsa'id housing and havingone arm thereof in engagement with;each of said shafts, another arm of said lever"being adapted to be actuated'to provide -foran oscillatingmovementof said lever about it's pivot,

saidonelever armbeing adapted to move saidshaf ts and to deflect ;saiddiaph ragms when said lever is oscillated, spring means disposed on oneside of each diaphragmjfor respectively biasingrand moving the same independently of said lever to provide a working stroke for each respective diaphragm, airinlet passage means and air outletpassagemeans each communicating with said airpumping chamber, and;means for conducting air pressure from oneof said 'passage means to one side of the diaphragm 11 for said fuel chamber to supplement the biasing effort of the spring means acting on said last named diaphragm.

6. A liquid fuel and air pumping unit comprising a housing, a liquid fuel pumping chamber disposed in one portion of said housing, an air pumping chamber disposed in another portion of said housing, a flexible diaphragm partly defining each of said pumping chambers, a shaft centrally secured to each of said diaphragms, a lever pivoted to a portion of said housing and having one arm thereof in engagement with each of said shafts, another arm of said lever being adapted to be actuated to provide for an oscillating movement of said lever about its pivot, said one lever arm being adapted to move said shafts and to deflect said diaphragms when said lever is oscillated, spring means disposed on one side of each diaphragm for respectively biasing and moving the same independently of said lever in a direction opposite to the direction of the aforesaid movement of said respective shafts, air inlet conduit means and air delivery conduit means communicating with said air pumping chamber, fuel inlet conduit means and fuel delivery conduit means communicating with said fuel pumping chamber, first branch passage means interconnecting said air inlet conduit means and said one side of the diaphragm for said air pumping chamber, and second branch passage means interconnecting said air inlet conduit means and said one side of the diaphragm for said fuel pumping chamber.

7. A liquid fuel and air pumping unit comprising a housing, a liquid fuel pumping chamber disposed in one portion of said housing, an air pumping chamber disposed in another portion of said housing, flexible diaphragm partly defining each of said pumping chambers, a shaft centrally secured to each of said diaphragms, a lever pivoted to a portion of said housing and having one arm thereof in engagement with each of said shafts, another arm of said lever being adapted to be actuated to provide for an oscillating movement of said lever about its pivot, a lost motion connection between said one arm and each of said shafts, air inlet conduit means and air delivery conduit means communicating with said air pumping chamber, fuel inlet conduit means and fuel delivery conduit means communicating with said fuel pumping chamber, first branch passage means interconnecting said air inlet conduit means and said one side of the diaphragm for said air pumping chamber, second branch passage means interconnecting said air inlet conduit means and said one side of the diaphragm for said fuel pumping chamber, and spring means acting against said one side of said other flexible diaphragm.

8. A liquid fuel and air pumping unit comprising a liquid fuel pumping chamber, an air pumping chamber having air intake and delivery conduit means communicating therewith, movable wall members partly defining each of said pumping chambers, inlet and outlet passage means for each of said pumping chambers, spring means for biasing each of said movable wall members to independently pressurize said pumping chambers, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on a portion of said pumping unit and including a first and a second extension, lost motion connections between said first extension and each of said movable wall members for positively actuating the latter in one direction only, said second extension being adapted to be mechanically actuated to oscillate said rocker arm, and passage means for conducting pressurized air from one of said conduit means to one side of at least one of said movable wall members to supplement the biasing effort of the spring means associated with the latter.

9. A liquid fuel and air pumping unit comprising a liquid fuel pumping chamber, an air pumping chamber having air intake and delivery conduit means communicating therewith, movable wall members partly defining each of said pumping chambers, inlet and outlet passage means for each of said pumping chambers, spring means for biasing each of said movable wall members to independently pressurize said pumping chambers, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on a portion of said pumping unit, a lost motion mechanical connection between said rocker arm and each of said movable wall members, said rocker arm being adapted to independently actuate each of said movable wall members against the respective spring means associated with each of the same, and passage means for conducting pressurized air from one of said conduit means to one side of each of said movable wall members to supplement the biasing eifort of said spring means.

it). A compound fluid pumping unit comprising two fluid pumping chambers, each of said pumping chambers being defined in part by separate movable walls, a fluid supply passage means and a fluid delivery passage means communicating with each of said pumping chambers, and auxiliary passage means for conducting fluid pressure from one of the passage means communicating with one pumping chamber to one side of the movable wall partly defining the other pumping chamber.

11. A compound fluid pumping unit comprising two fluid pumping chambers, each of said pumping chambers being defined in part by a movable wall, fluid supply and delivery passage means communicating with each of said pumping chambers, a first auxiliary passage means for conducting fluid pressure from one of the passage means communicating with one working chamber to one side of the movable wall defining the other working chamber, and a second auxiliary passage means for conducting fluid pressure from one of the passage means communicating with said one pumping chamber to one side of the movable wall partly defining said one pumping chamber.

12. A compound fluid pumping unit comprising two fluid pumping chambers, each of said pumping chambers being defined in part by separate movable walls, a fluid supply passage means and a fluid delivery passage means communicating with each of said pumping chambers, and an auxiliary passage means for conducting fluid pressure from the fluid supply passage means communicating with one working chamber to one side of the movable wall partly defining the other working chamber.

13. A compound fluid pumping unit comprising two fluid pumping chambers, each of said pumping chambers being defined in part by separate movable walls, a fluid supply passage means and a fluid delivery passage means communicating with each of said pumping chambers, means for positively displacing each of said movable walls, spring means for biasing said movable walls independently of said last named means in a direction opposite to the direction of its aforementioned displacement, and means for conducting fluid pressure from one of the passage means communicating with one of said working chambers to one side of each of said movable walls to supplement the movable wall biasing efiort of said spring means.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said one passage means is the fluid supply passage means for said one working chamber.

15. A compound fluid pumping unit comprising two fluid pumping chambers, each of said chambers being defined in part by separate movable walls, a fluid supply passage means and a fluid delivery passage means communicating with each of said pumping chambers, means for positively displacing each of said movable walls, spring means for biasing said movable walls independently of said last named means in a direction opposite to the direction of its aforesaid displacement, means for conducting fluid pressure from one of the passage means for one of said pumping chambers to one side of each of said movable walls to supplement the movable wall biasing efiort of said spring means, and a surge chamber communicating with the delivery passage means for the other pumping chamber, said surge chamber communicating with one of the passage means for said one working chamber for pressurizing the same.

16. A compound fluid pumping unit comprising two fluid pumping chambers, each of said pumping chambers 13 14 being defined in part by separate movable walls, a fluid chamber, said surge chamber portions being separated by supply passage means and a delivery passage means comanother movable wall. municating with each of said pumping chambers, auxiliary passage means for conducting fluid pressure from one of References Cited in the file of this patent the passage means for one pumping chamber to one 5 side of the movable Wall partly defining the other pumping UNITED STATES PATENTS chamber, and a surge chamber comprising one portion 2,151,043 Paton Mar. 21, 1939 communicating with the delivery passage means for said 2,570,560 Katcher Oct. 9, 1951 other pumping chamber and another portion communicat- 2,610,464 Knoll Sept. 16, 1952 ing with one of the passage means for said one pumping 10 2,635,425 Thorpe et a1 Apr. 21, 1953 U. 5-. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N00 2, 819, 588 Janu y ,141; 1195 Jorma O0 Sarto It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Let oers Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 38, for "automobile" read automotive column 3, line 2'7, for "of" read for line 44, for "drivingly" read drivably line 59, for "as" read an column 9,- line 31, for "daaphragm read diaphragm column 10, line 48, for "diaphragm" read diaphragms column 11, line 31, before "flexible" insert a Signed and sealed this 11th day of March 1958.,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL It AXLINE ROBERT c. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

